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Whats everyone's take on Epic/Narrative Poetry?

in Poetry Discussion

After events of last weekend,I have took upon myself and write an Epic/ Narrative poem.Won't say anything about topic matter,will only say this involves me.

Because this is meant to recount life experiences,epics/narratives i written have been about me.I believe I have written 3 epic/narrative poems thus far.Mainly to once again,recount my life thus far.

My take is,well depending on subject matter,they can be done rather well.As these were written in the time of culture they reside in,they are different in terms of poet,subject matter and what was message they were trying to convey to audience.

Downside is because it's very long,epic/narrative poems,they might be targeting certain portion of audience.Such as Micro Poetry.If Micro poetry was for Instagram and Tik Tok,Epic/Narrative poems would be for YouTube and Hollywood.Hollywood,being that there have been film adaptations(Beowulf come to mind),along with Mulan and Braveheart.

No idea Mulan and Braveheart were considered epics until I look them up on flavorwire.com,so website is proof,if you like to know many more epics that were may into film although they only listed 10 films,and was a 2013 article.Just something to keep in mind.

These,along with many more are beloved by many and perhaps unsurprisingly,there isn't alot of Epics being made nowadays,unless you count a YouTuber Movie or Film starring The Rock to be Epics of their own.Mean,The Rock was a Scorpion King,for crying out loud.

Also,does page number matter in an Epic?

Or does content of the Epic matter?

My last epic lasted 30 pages.

I have alot of stuff on my mind.

But if it's only 30 pages,would it be more of a narrative???

As in,as long as it contains grand adventure, then its consider Epic?

So,Covers,any thoughts on Epics/Narratives?

1 answer1 reply

Comments (2)

Yvonne Calder

Oct 11, 2021

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I have read 2 long poems

Passion Play by Valerie Volk 2013 -she modernises Chaucers Canterbury Tales. The book worked for me so I find it difficult to analyse it. The poem is about 300 pages long, tells the tale of 21 travellers (matching them to chaucers tale) who are to see the passion play in Obergammergau Germany. It is definitely a narrative but I don't think it is epic. The other Elizabeth Barrett-Browning Essay on Mind . I think I managed to finish this because I was in lock down. It is written in traditional heroic style of rhyming couplets. I don't think the style was the best vehicle to convey her ideas, although I agree with her poetry can deal with abstract ideas. In her prologue she gives this translation of Tacitus ' Thought catches the light reflected from the object of her contemplation '

Are you going to include an excerpt from your epics for covers to read?

Oct 11, 2021

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Replying to

@Yvonne Calder Canterbury Tales sounds familiar.Think its mainly because I read it in my senior class in high school.

When opportunity presents itself,I will have the other epic a read.

I wouldn't do an excerpt with my epic/narrative poems,mainly because they are by far the most difficult to make.So if anyone decides to copy my work,I would rather have them copy poems I would care less about,than work I put in my own time,energy and sweat equity in just to have my work be plagiarized.Hope this answers question.Also,kudos for finishing epic during lockdown,you must had time on your hands.